Fort Davidson, Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic SiteBattle of Pilot Knob ReenactmentsMissouri Civil War Tours
| Missouri Civil War MuseumCivil War Sites near St.
Louis in the Arcadia Valley Region and Black River Area
Fort Davidson Battlefield

The Friends of Fort Davidson is a public charity under the Internal Revenue Service's 501(c)(3) rule and works to preserve Fort Davidson and the battlefield, scene of the pivotal Missouri civil war Battle of Pilot Knob. We consistently work to preserve more of this battlefield, create hiking opportunities, and work with local landowners to protect this battlefield.

In
September 1864, an army of Confederate soldiers 12,000 strong
marched into Missouri from Arkansas, led by Major General Sterling
Price. Headed north toward St. Louis, this massive cavalry soon
arrived at the southern terminus of the St. Louis and
Iron Mountain Railroad in Pilot Knob. There, a federal
fort, Fort Davidson, stood, garrisoned by only 1,500 Union soldiers
led by Brigadier General Thomas Ewing Jr. Seeing a chance to obtain
arms for his 3,000 unarmed soldiers and to gain combat experience
for the nearly 6,000 untested draftees, Price sent men to rip
up the tracks to the north, cutting off Union reinforcements to
the fort.

Though not nearly large enough to support the entire 1,500 man
garrison, as more and more Confederate troops piled into the nearby
town of Ironton, many Union soldiers were forced to withdraw to
the safety of the fort. Its hexagonal walls—nine feet high
and ten feet thick—were surrounded by a dry moat up to nine
feet deep, allowing access only from a drawbridge in the southeastern
corner. Two long rifle pits ran out from the walls, and for 300
yards in every direction there was a clear field of fire for the
four huge siege guns, three howitzers, and six field artillery
pieces that were fed by the buried powder magazine at the heart
of the fort.

Feeling
one swift assault would overwhelm the fort, Price ordered his
men to divide up and move in from different directions. One brigade
went over the top of Pilot Knob Mountain, taking the small Union
force stationed there, while another went over Shepherd Mountain
with plans to use the cannons atop the mountains to fire on the
fort as the attack began. A third brigade went around the base
of Shepherd Mountain, toward the northwestern sides of the fort,
and the fourth charged through the valley between the mountains.

Unfortunately
for Price, it didn’t work out quite as he had planned. The
assaults were poorly timed and the Union soldiers had time to
direct their fire at each advancing brigade. As thousands of men
charged the fort, gunfire echoed off the mountains and the bloody
battle waged on beneath a thick cloud of sulfurous smoke supplied
by the cannon and musket fire. Only one brigade succeeded in reaching
the fort, but the soldiers were unable to conquer the fort’s
steep walls and became victim to assault from wooden-finned impact
grenades thrown by the Yankees.

The assault was broken. The Confederates fell back and made plans
to attack the fort the next day. As the smoke cleared to reveal
the nearly 1,200 dead or wounded Confederates covering the battleground,
the remaining Rebel troops were busy building ladders to scale
the fort’s steep walls. However, inside the fort, Ewing
and his men were making their own plans. Though they suffered
only an estimated 100 casualties and 28 deaths, the Union force
was low on ammunition for its cannons and wouldn’t be able
to hold out for another day of battle.

Using canvas to drape over the drawbridge and hay to muffle the
sounds of the horses’ hoofs, along with the helpful cover
of darkness, Ewing and his garrison evacuated the fort undetected.
As they moved northwest, directly between two Rebel camps, the
Confederates (who were busy preparing for battle) mistook them
for friendly troops moving into a new position. Almost an hour
later, a small group of Union soldiers who stayed behind blew
up the powder magazine, for 20 miles in every direction, the ground
shook and the night sky was ablaze with light when the magazine
exploded, leaving the fort a smoldering crater.

The
over-confident Confederate troops believed an accident had occurred
at the fort and the survivors would surrender at dawn. However,
upon inspecting the fort’s condition the following morning,
Price discovered that Ewing and his men were gone. Though they
had no victory, they now held the field and the fort. Because
of this, the Confederates were responsible for burying the dead
and created a mass grave in one of the rifle pits. After taking
inventory of the supplies that survived the explosion, Price divided
the goods and weaponry that could be taken, then destroyed the
rest before moving on to a near-endless string of defeat.

Fort
Davidson State Historic Site serves as a memorial to
the many soldiers who gave their life fighting for their idea
of freedom. The earthworks of the fort are mostly intact and visitors
can explore this aspect of the battle as well as a portion of
the original battlefield. A spectacular
full-scale reenactment of the Battle of Pilot Knob is staged,
drawing in tens of thousands of spectators to the valley. The
next reenactment takes place September 23rd & 24th, 2017. The 2014 Reenactment was set
to coincide with the 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the
Civil War. A wide variety of activities are available to
keep almost anyone satisfied, from infantry artillery cavalry
drills, to medical demonstrations and the ever-popular blowing
up of the fort. Vendors aim to please, offering refreshing beverages
and snacks or period objects and clothing to reacquaint you with
life during the war. To see
images of the Battle of Pilot Knob Reenactment and to learn
about the upcoming event in 2017, please click here.

On
the site, a granite monument marks the place where the mass grave
begins, as well as locations throughout the valley that were significant
points on the battlefield. Maps for this self-guided tour are
available at the Visitor’s Center and Museum
that are also on the site. (If you would like to download
the self-guided driving tour of the Battle of Pilot Knob prior
to your arrival please click here), This free interpretive
center provides detailed information about the battle, offering
visitors an opportunity to see artifacts found just outside the
museum’s walls as well as from the war in general. Visitors
also have a chance to view a 25 minute film and a 15 minute audio-visual
fiber optics diorama of the battle. Next to the museum is a picnic
area and playground, making this a perfect place to get away with
the family to learn more about history and fighting for what you
believe in.by Mary Eakins Bullis